Board Breaking Game and Methods of Play

ABSTRACT

A karate board breaking game and associated methods of play are described. At least one embodiment comprises a plurality of reusable plastic breaking boards, a task randomizer, a score tabulator and instructions. Other embodiments are contemplated having non-reusable wood boards. Yet other embodiments are contemplated that include additional components such as additional boards, a board holder, additional task randomizers and additional score tabulators for different versions of playing the game as detailed in the instructions.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and incorporates fully by reference U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/440,780 entitled Board Breaking Game filed on Dec. 30, 2016 and having the inventors as the present application.

BACKGROUND

One skill often practiced and exhibited in the martial arts is the breaking of wood and plastic boards using a variety of strikes and kicks using various parts of the body as striking tools such as elbows, hands, and feet. Tournaments are sometimes held wherein participants of similar ages, similar genders and similar skill levels as most often signified by the color belt worn, compete against one and other.

Heretofore, no means has existed for people of differing ages, genders and skill levels to compete against each other in board breaking skills. Formal tournaments and martial arts classrooms, while facilitating board breaking competition, formal and informal, typically do not provide a means for martial arts students of different ages, genders and skill levels to compete directly and equitably against each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the contents of a typical base or beginner level board breaking game according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of additional components and elements of a board breaking game that can be included in more advanced variations or obtained separately according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view illustration of a spinner that can be provided with the board breaking game and used in playing the game according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view illustration of a score card/sheet that can be provided with the board breaking game and used in playing the game according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention comprise a karate board breaking game and associated methods of play. At least one embodiment comprises a plurality of reusable plastic breaking boards, a task randomizer, a score tabulator and instructions. Other embodiments are contemplated having non-reusable wood boards. Yet other embodiments are contemplated that include additional components such as additional boards, a board holder, additional task randomizers and additional score tabulators for different versions of playing the game as detailed in the instructions.

In at least one embodiment the task randomizer comprises a spinner segmented into pie slice sections with each section pertaining to a task and/or game option, and the score tabulator comprises a printed sheet on which the scores of the various players are recorded and tabulated.

According to one method of playing the board breaking game, a player on his/her turn spins the spinner to determine the task he/she is to perform. He chooses one or more boards of a desired breaking strength to attempt to break. He attempts to break the boards. He may get a second chance if he fails on the first attempt. If successful, he tabulates his score and enters in the appropriate location on the score sheet. The other players then complete their turns. Play continues until; the game is concluded when a player completes all the board breaking tasks of the game, or a player achieves a predetermined score.

Terminology

The terms and phrases as indicated in quotes (“ ”) in this section are intended to have the meaning ascribed to them in this Terminology section applied to them throughout this document including the claims unless clearly indicated otherwise in context. Further, as applicable, the stated definitions are to apply, regardless of the word or phrase's case, to the singular and plural variations of the defined word or phrase.

The term “or” as used in this specification and the appended claims is not meant to be exclusive rather the term is inclusive meaning “either or both”.

References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “a preferred embodiment”, “an alternative embodiment” and similar phrases mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all meant to refer to the same embodiment.

The term “couple” or “coupled” as used in this specification and the appended claims refers to either an indirect or direct connection between the identified elements, components or objects. Often the manner of the coupling will be related specifically to the manner in which the two coupled elements interact.

Directional and/or relationary terms such as, but not limited to, left, right, nadir, apex, top, bottom, upper, lower, vertical, horizontal, back, front and lateral are relative to each other and are dependent on the specific orientation of an applicable element or article, and are used accordingly to aid in the description of the various embodiments and are not necessarily intended to be construed as limiting.

An Embodiment of a Board Breaking Game

One embodiment of a board breaking game 100 as shown in FIG. 1 comprises: (1) three reusable martial arts plastic breaking boards 105-115; (2) a task randomizer 120; and (3) a score tabulator 125. Instructions 130 pertaining to playing the game and the proper manner of performing the various breaking tasks are also provided in at least some of the embodiments. A box 135 is typically provided to contain the game components.

Plastic breaking boards 105-115 are typically utilized with the game in lieu of one time use wood karate breaking boards as they are designed to be used repeatedly for hundreds if not thousands of breaks. The boards typically comprise left and right halves that are joined through a mortise and tenon structure of protruding pins and associated corresponding receiving slots that requires a strike of a specific load to separate (or break) the halves. Depending on the structure of the pins and slots boards of different breaking strengths can be produced. Typically, boards of differing breaking strengths are characterized by different colors. A reusable plastic breaking board is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,496 issued to one of the present inventors and is incorporated by reference herein. Other styles of plastic reusable boards exist that use a tongue and groove method of assembly instead of the mortise and tenon type connection.

Some reusable plastic breaking boards 105-115, such as the martial arts boards produced by UMAB of Colorado Springs, Colo., are configured so boards of different colors (or breaking strengths) can be combined to create hybrid boards having an intermediate breaking strengths. Specifically, a board half having a first strength can be combined with a board half representing either the next stronger or weaker board available from the particular manufacturer. Accordingly, in a board breaking game comprising three complete boards each having a different breaking strength, boards having five different breaking strengths can be created. Further, boards can be stacked as desired that require even greater striking force to break the stack.

While reusable plastic breaking boards 105-115 provide perhaps the most economic manner in which to play the board breaking game, embodiments are contemplated wherein the game is supplied with more traditional wooden boards.

The task randomizer 120 is supplied in the form of a spinner in the illustrated embodiment. A close up of a spinner is shown in FIG. 3. The illustrated spinner is divided into 14 pie-shaped segments 140-166 on which a spinning indicator 165 may stop. Each segment represents a game task or game action. As shown, the tasks can include breaking a board with a palm heel 140, a hammer first 142, a front kick 144, a knife hand 150, a rear elbow 152, a back kick 154, a front elbow 160 and a side kick 162. Additionally, the spinner includes segments for various game actions namely: spin again 146, players choice 148 & 164, subtract 10 points and lose a turn 156, add 10 points and spin again 158, and lose a turn 166.

In variations of the spinner 120, the number of segments can increase or decrease including more or fewer tasks and actions. In particular more advanced versions of the game are contemplated to be played by players more advanced in the martial arts wherein additional task segments for breaking tasks typically requiring more skill are provided as well as permitting a player to choose to break multiple boards at one time. Additional or alternative tasks can include, but are not limited to: roundhouse kick, downward knife hand, downward hammer fist, downward punch, downward palm heel, ridge hand, back fist, spinning heel kick, and stomp although this list is not to be considered conclusive of all possible tasks.

In other variations, the task randomizer can be other than a spinner 120. For instance, the randomizer can comprise one or more dice or a deck of cards. Additionally, the randomizer can comprise an electronic device that when activated randomly chooses a task or action. In yet other embodiments, the randomizer can comprise an app running on an electronic computing device, such as a smart phone, that when activated also chooses a task or action.

The score tabulator as illustrated typically comprises a score pad 125 having a plurality of preprinted sheets provided thereon. The printed indicia on each sheet can be arranged in any suitable manner but typically provide a list the various task pertaining to the game and an empty box or space in which to write a score associated with attempting and or completing the specific task. Additionally, spaces or check boxes can be provided for the player(s) to record the receipt or subtraction of bonus or penalty points.

An embodiment of a score sheet 170 is provided in FIG. 4. The score sheet can comprise a piece of paper that is torn off of the pad 125. The illustrated score sheet pertains to the game play of a single player and allows the player to record the scores related to multiple games on a single sheet; however, other variations are contemplated wherein multiple players can record their scores on a single sheet as it pertains to a game.

The illustrated score sheet 170 includes a section 172 across the top for the player to list his/her name, gender and age. Top and bottom task columns 174 are provided on the left side of the sheet listing the various breaking tasks the player is to perform during game play. As can be appreciated these task correspond to the tasks on the associated spinner. As can also be appreciated, different score sheets are provided for different versions of the game using different spinners that may also specify different board breaking tasks. A plurality of game columns 176 are aligned with the task columns providing the player with a location to enter his/her score for each breaking task associated with a particular game. Each game column is sequentially numbered to indicate the game number. Near the bottom of each game column, a plurality of check boxes 178 are provided to permit a player to indicate bonuses and penalties received. At the bottom of each game column, a box 180 is provided wherein the player can record his/her running score total.

In variations, a score sheet can be provided in a reusable form, such as a laminated sheet that can be written on and erased using dry erase markers. In yet other variations and embodiments of the game, the score tabulator can comprise part of an app to be run on a tablet or smart phone.

Instructions 130 on the play of the game are also typically provided. The instructions can be in the form of a printed booklet, a printed card, or imprinted on the game box. The instructions typically describe the method of game play, the associated rules of play, means of scoring during play and the manner in which a winner of the game is determined. The method of play is detailed below. The instructions can also include information pertaining to the specific board breaking tasks describing and pictorially or photographically illustrating the stance and movement necessary to carry out each particular board breaking strike. Instructions can be provided electronically as well. Videos on DVD, memory stick or by way of internet links can also be provided that demonstrate each type of strike to the game player. The instructions can also be provided as part of an app to be run on a tablet or smart phone.

Variations of the board breaking game can be sold with additional components and features as are illustrated in FIG. 2. As indicated above, more advanced versions of the game allow the players to execute board breaking tasks more suited to a player more experienced in the martial arts. These variations typically include different spinners 220 (or task randomizers) and score sheet pads 225 (score tabulators) that include different or additional tasks as well as different point goals. Some advanced variations of the game can include multiple spinners and multiple score sheet pads so that the game can be tailored to the skill level of the group of players that want to partake in the game. Other variations are also contemplated where the group of players includes players of different skill levels and wherein each player can choose which score sheet and spinner he/she is going to use.

The advanced game may also include additional or different plastic breaking boards 205-215. The boards provided in the more advanced game may be stronger requiring greater force to break. Further, with the ability to stack boards more strength combinations will be available to choose from.

Some variations may further include a breaking board holder 230. The breaking board holder provides a stable platform that allows more boards to be broken with a reduction of risk of injury to the player attempting the break and those who would otherwise be holding the boards. Additionally, some board holders can be configured for attachment to a pole or other vertical support means for use without another player having to hold it. A portable breaking board holder is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,387,962 issued to one of the present inventors and is incorporated by reference herein.

In some variations, a carrying bag 235 can be included in place of or in addition to a game box 135.

In yet another variation of the game, the task randomizer, the score tabulator, and the instructions can all be embodied in an app for use on an electronic computing device. The app can also include links to or have resident therein videos or other instructive materials that demonstrate proper form and striking technique for the various tasks. In at least one form of the game, a download code is provided with the purchase of the physical components of the game, namely the plastic breaking boards and optionally the board holder. The purchaser then downloads the app for use in playing the game. In another form, the app can be purchased separately from the boards and/or board holder.

A Method of Playing an Embodiment of a Board Breaking Game

In one method embodiment of playing the board breaking game, a player on his/her turn actuates the task randomizer, which in the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1 comprises spinning the spinner. The task randomizer then indicates a task or action to be under taken by the player.

If the task randomizer indicates an action, such as adding or subtracting bonus points, the user records the amount on his/her score tabulator. In some variations, except for the action indicating the player loses a turn, he reactivates the task randomizer to select a new task or action. In other variations, the player's turn will end and pass to the next player.

If the task randomizer indicates a task, the player may be provided an opportunity to attempt the task. Generally, the player will get to attempt tasks he has not previously attempted or he has previously but unsuccessfully attempted in prior turns. In some variations, if the player has already completed the specified task, the turn will end and pass to the next player. In other variations, if the player has already completed the specified task, he/she will get to activate the randomizer again until a task is provided that the player has not completed or an action, such as the lose a turn action ends the turn. In yet other variations, if the player has already completed the specified task, he will get option of attempting the task again in an attempt to improve his score, although the score the player previously achieved for the task may be vacated.

Typically, the player will choose the board, board combination he/she wants to attempt to break understanding that more points are awarded for breaking a high strength board or board combination. For example, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 includes three boards: an easy board, a medium board, and a more difficult board. The player may receive 10 points for breaking the easy board, 15 points for breaking the combination of the easy and medium board, and so on and so forth with 30 points being awarded for breaking the more difficult board.

In some variations of the game, other players may be able to choose the board the player is to attempt. In other variations, another spinner (or board randomizer) may be actuated to randomly select the board or board combination the player shall attempt to break. In yet another embodiment of the game and associated method of play, the player will actuate a board randomizer and based on the indicated board, he/she will choose the strike he/she will use to attempt to break the board.

Once a board has been chosen, the player attempts to break it using the indicated strike technique. If the player breaks the board, he/she receives the appropriate number of points based on the strength of the board. If the player fails to break the board, his/her turn may end or he/she may be permitted to make a second attempt depending on the variation of the game being played. If a second attempt is permitted, the player may also be allowed to choose to attempt to break a board or boards of a different breaking strength.

In some variations of the game, age and gender bonus points may be added to the points awarded for the completion of each successful board breaking task. For instance in one variation of the game: players between 7 and 8 receive 20 bonus points for each successful break; players between 9 and 10 receive 10 bonus points; players over 60 receive 20 bonus points; and females over 11 receive an additional 10 points. The awarding of bonus points helps to equalize game play between players of different ages and genders making the game more competitive. In another variation, a onetime award of age and gender bonus points may be provided rather than for each successful breaking task completed.

Once a player has completed his/her turn, the turn advances to the next player. The order of the players can vary but in at least one variation of the game, the youngest player starts the game with successively older players taking their turns in line. In yet another variation, the oldest player starts first. In another variation, the first player can be chosen randomly. Game play continues rotating through each player until one of the players wins the game.

Various methods of winning the game are contemplated. In one variation, the first player to either complete all the breaks or reach a predetermined point goal is the winner. Play can continue until the next player completes all his/her breaks or reaches the point goal for second place. Similarly, third place and even subsequent placements can also be determined in a similar manner.

Variations and Other Embodiments

The various embodiments and variations thereof, illustrated in the accompanying Figures and/or described above, are merely exemplary and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. It is to be appreciated that numerous other variations of the invention have been contemplated, as would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure. All variations of the invention that read upon appended claims are intended and contemplated to be within the scope of the invention. 

We claim:
 1. A board breaking game for one or more players comprising: a plurality of reusable martial arts plastic breaking boards; a task randomizer, the task randomizer configured to select one of a plurality of tasks and game actions; and a score tabulator, the score tabulator configured to permit a player to record a score received playing the game; and instructions, the instructions detailing how to play the game.
 2. The board breaking game of claim 1, further comprising: a board holder, the board holder configured to hold one or more breaking boards for an attempt by a player to break the one or more breaking boards.
 3. The board breaking game of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reusable martial arts plastic breaking boards comprises at least three plastic breaking boards each having two halves wherein halves can be selectively combined to create board assemblies having at least five different breaking strengths.
 4. The board breaking game of claim 1, wherein the task randomizer comprises a spinner.
 5. The board breaking game of claim 1, wherein the score tabulator comprises a score sheet.
 6. The breaking board game of claim 1, wherein the instructions instruct in each player to: (a) actuate the task randomizer to select a strike technique in which the player is to strike one or more breaking boards; (b) choose one or more breaking boards of a specific breaking strength to break; (c) break the one or more breaking boards chosen using the strike technique; (d) tabulate a score based on the breaking strength of the one or more breaking boards chosen; and (e) record the score on the score tabulator.
 7. A method of playing a the board breaking game of claim 1, the method comprising: actuating the task randomizer to select a strike technique from a plurality of strike techniques in which a first player of the two or more players is to strike one or more breaking boards; the first player attempting to break one or more breaking boards using the strike technique; and the first player tabulating a point score based on the breaking strength of the one or more breaking boards.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: the first player selecting one or more breaking boards to attempt to break.
 9. The method of claim 7, further comprising: the first player recording the score on the score tabulator.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the task randomizer comprises a spinner and said actuating the task randomizer comprises spinning the spinner.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the spinner comprises a plurality of fields with each field of a first set of fields of the plurality of fields including indicia indicating one strike technique of the plurality of strike techniques, and with each field of a second set of fields of the plurality of fields including indicia indicating one or more of a bonus point award, a point reduction, and a forfeit turn.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the score tabulator comprises a score sheet, the score sheet including a indicia listing each of the plurality of strike techniques and said recording the score comprises writing the score on the score sheet.
 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising: actuating the task randomizer to select another strike technique of the plurality of strike techniques in which a second player of the one or more players is to strike one or more breaking boards; the second player attempting to break one or more breaking boards using the other strike technique; the second player tabulating a score based on the breaking strength of the one or more breaking boards; and the second player writing the score on the score sheet.
 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising: repeating said actuating, said attempting, said tabulating and said writing by each of the first and second players until the aggregate total of all points scores for one of the first and second players reaches a predetermined point goal.
 15. The method of claim 13 further comprising: repeating said actuating, said attempting, said tabulating and said writing by each of the first and second players until one of the first and second players completes all of the plurality of strike techniques.
 16. The method of claim 7 wherein said first player tabulating a point score is additionally based on the age and gender of the first player.
 17. The method of claim 7, wherein said first player choosing the one or more breaking boards to attempt the strike technique comprises selecting a half of a first board of a first breaking strength and another half of a second board of a second breaking strength and combining the halves to create a board having a third breaking strength.
 18. The method of claim 7, wherein said the first player attempting to break one or more breaking boards using the strike technique further comprises up to two attempts to break one or more breaking boards.
 19. The method of claim 7, wherein said actuating the task randomizer to select a strike technique indicates the strike technique previously completed by the first player, the first player is not permitted to perform the operation of said attempting to break one or more breaking boards using the strike technique.
 20. A method of playing a the board breaking game between two or more players, the method comprising: providing a board breaking game, the board breaking game comprising, a plurality of reusable martial arts plastic breaking boards, a spinner, the spinner configured to select one of a plurality of strike techniques, and a score sheet, the score sheet configured to permit a player to record a score received playing the game; spinning the spinner to select a first strike technique of a plurality of strike techniques in which a first player of the two or more players is to strike one or more breaking boards; the first player selecting one or more breaking boards of the plurality of reusable martial arts plastic breaking boards to attempt to break; the first player attempting to break the one or more breaking boards using the first strike technique; and the first player tabulating a point score based on the breaking strength of the one or more breaking boards; the first player recording the score on the score sheet; spinning the spinner to select a second strike technique of a plurality of strike techniques in which a second player of the two or more players is to strike one or more breaking boards; the second player selecting one or more breaking boards of the plurality of reusable martial arts plastic breaking boards to attempt to break; the second player attempting to break the one or more breaking boards using the second strike technique; and the second player tabulating a point score based on the breaking strength of the one or more breaking boards; the second player recording the score on the score sheet; and repeating said actuating, said attempting, said tabulating and said recording by each of the first and second players until the aggregate total of all points scores for one of the first and second players reaches a predetermined point goal. 